Fsl No Mystery To Osceola's Jenkins .244 Hitter Of 1988 Sets Batting Pace In Tougher League

April 30, 1989|By Frank Carroll of The Sentinel Staff

KISSIMMEE — Houston's front office gambled when it assigned outfielder Bernie Jenkins, whose professional credentials consist of only 58 games last summer, to the Osceola Astros.

But if Jenkins, 6 feet 4, 208 pounds, continues to dominate pitching in the Florida State League, they may start calling him ''Jackpot.''

An 11-for-22 streak last week shot the right fielder's average to .383, tops in the 14-team Class A league.

''The difference between this year and last is like night and day,'' said Jenkins, 21, whose average suffered as he fought to make the transition from metal bats he used in college to wooden bats used in pro ball.

''It took longer to adjust than I thought, but now I prefer wood,'' said Jenkins, who hit .244 for Auburn in the New York-Penn League. ''Aluminum makes it an artificial game.''

Monitoring his progress is Fred Nelson, Houston's director of minor-league operations, the man responsible for having Jenkins skip Asheville of the Class A South Atlantic League and move to Osceola.

''Bernie is a real bright spot,'' Nelson said. ''He has plenty of tools but hadn't played much. He progressed through Auburn and our instructional league ball, and during spring training it was encouraging to see how much. We felt his skills were advanced enough to play in the Florida State League.''

Away from the clubhouse, Jenkins said he's a quiet person who prefers to keep to himself and his music.

''I'm no superstar,'' he said. ''I've got a good eye, decent speed, a strong throwing arm, and I'm not afraid to work. I grew up knowing that the good things in life don't come easy. So, I work harder for what I do get.''

Jenkins, whose first organized baseball experience came seven years ago in a Babe Ruth League in Brooklyn, N.Y., knows others have more experience.

''I didn't get into baseball sooner because we were always leaving New York each summer to visit family in Alabama,'' he said.

To offset what he lacks in experience, Jenkins said he pays close attention to what coaches and instructors say.

''If it works for me, I keep it,'' he said. ''If not, I try something else.''

Jenkins' success as a pitcher-outfielder for Brooklyn's Lafayette High School gained him an athletic grant-in-aid to St. Francis College. He hit .551 as a junior and was a seventh-round pick by Houston in last June's free-agent draft.

''The pitching is the big difference,'' he said. ''It's much better than college.''

''He's the kind of player who should get better every day,'' Nelson said. ''That's a tribute to him, his work habits.''

Jenkins, who grew up a loyal Mets fan, also is confident about his future with Houston, an organization deep in talented outfielders.

''I don't worry about sitting,'' he said. ''Things change. As long as I continue to move up through the organization I'll be content. And, if I continue to progress, I'll play for somebody.''